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independent.com
· 2025-12-08
On August 4, a 77-year-old woman in Goleta nearly lost $30,000 to an elaborate phone scam in which callers impersonating Amazon and Federal Trade Commission agents instructed her to withdraw cash and provide photos of the money. The victim became suspicious due to misspellings in an email, contacted the sheriff's office while still on the call, and deputies arrested Caihong Lei as she retrieved the box of cash from the victim's property. Lei was charged with grand theft by false pretense, conspiracy to commit fraud, and misdemeanor prowling, with bail set at $500,000, while investigators determined whether she was part of a larger scam network.
southernmarylandchronicle.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal Trade Commission data reveals a more than four-fold increase since 2020 in reports from adults 60 and older losing $10,000 or more to impersonation scams, with combined losses exceeding $100,000 jumping from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024. Common tactics include fraudsters posing as government officials, banks, or tech companies to convince victims to transfer funds via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or courier delivery under false pretenses of account protection or legal issues. The FTC reported $12.5 billion in total scam losses nationally in 2024, with older adults accounting for $2.3 billion an
plansponsor.com
· 2025-12-08
The Federal Trade Commission reports that scams targeting adults over 60 have grown exponentially, with total fraud losses climbing to nearly $700 million in 2024 from $122 million in 2020, and losses exceeding $10,000 increasing eight-fold during this period. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to romance scams and other fraud schemes because they typically have larger retirement savings and are perceived as less technologically sophisticated. Congress introduced legislation to allow penalty-free early withdrawals from qualified retirement plans for fraud victims, while the FTC recommends that seniors avoid sending money to unsolicited callers, verify government officials' identities, and block unwanted calls to protect themselves.
dynamitenews.com
· 2025-12-08
A Gurugram resident, Pranay Kapoor, was defrauded of Rs 8,000 at a gas station tyre repair shop that falsely claimed his single puncture was actually four separate punctures with bubbles, charging Rs 1,200 per puncture repair. A reputable mechanic later revealed the scam—the shop workers had intentionally created fake punctures using a nail-like tool, leaving the tyre so damaged that replacement became necessary. The incident went viral on social media, with multiple viewers reporting similar experiences at deceptive repair shops.
fandomwire.com
· 2025-12-08
The PERRY Act (Protecting Elder Realty for Retirement Years Act) proposes a 72-hour cooling-off period for real estate contracts involving seniors over 75, inspired partly by Katy Perry's high-profile disputes with elderly homeowners. The legislation was prompted by broader concerns about elder financial exploitation in real estate—federal data showed over 93,000 fraud complaints from seniors aged 60+ in 2020 with losses exceeding $500 million—and was supported by examples including Perry's disputed $15 million purchase of a Santa Barbara mansion from an 85-year-old disabled veteran and her earlier attempt to purchase a convent from elderly nuns. Though the act
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
The U.S. Treasury Department's FinCEN warned in 2024 that Bitcoin ATM fraud had surged dramatically, with nearly 11,000 complaints and estimated victim losses of $247 million. Elderly individuals were the primary targets of these scams, which also involved money laundering activities through non-compliant crypto ATM operators. FinCEN urged financial institutions to implement proactive detection measures and file suspicious activity reports for transactions exhibiting red flags such as multiple sub-threshold deposits and ATMs lacking proper customer identification requirements.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States to face charges for orchestrating an international fraud scheme that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) operations. The transnational criminal organization targeted both individuals and businesses by tricking them into sending money under false pretenses, with the FBI intensifying its crackdown on such cyber-enabled crimes through international law enforcement cooperation.
chimpreports.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August 2025 and charged with leading a criminal network that stole over $100 million from American victims through romance scams and business email compromise schemes. The defendants, who allegedly targeted elderly Americans with fictitious romantic identities and deceived companies into wire transfers, face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large.
nilepost.co.ug
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were charged with operating an international fraud ring that defrauded individuals and businesses of over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. Three of the defendants—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States and appeared in Manhattan federal court, while a fourth suspect remains at large. All four face multiple federal charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud count.
thecable.ng
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were indicted in the U.S. for operating an international fraud ring that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly people, and business email compromise attacks. Three of the defendants were extradited to the United States, while one remains at large; they face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential sentences up to 20 years. The stolen proceeds were laundered back to West Africa, with two defendants identified as coordinators of the criminal organization.
leadertelegram.com
· 2025-12-08
A Wisconsin man nearly fell victim to a sophisticated pop-up scam impersonating Target's account suspension process, which directed him to call a fraudulent number and provide financial information. The incident illustrates the increasing sophistication of fraud schemes; the FTC reported over 6.47 million fraud complaints in 2024 (a 25% increase from 2023), with Americans losing over $12.5 billion, and seniors over 70 experiencing median losses of $1,600. Law enforcement and organizations like AARP warn that scams are becoming more professionally organized—with an estimated 80% originating from crime syndicates outside the United States—and recommend protective measures including credit monitoring
chronicle.ng
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals have been indicted in the United States for their roles in an international fraud ring that defrauded victims of over $100 million through romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly elderly people, and business email compromise attacks on companies. Three of the defendants were extradited to the US in August, while one remains at large; they face multiple charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential sentences up to 20 years for some counts. The stolen proceeds were laundered back to West Africa, with the operation coordinated by leaders identified as "chairmen" of the criminal enterprise.
guardian.co.tt
· 2025-12-08
Shiva Bissessar, managing director of Pinaka Consulting Ltd., is advocating for public-private partnerships to combat online scams, which disproportionately affect elderly and youth populations. According to FBI data presented at international conferences in 2024, investment fraud caused over $6.5 billion in losses in the U.S., while phishing remains the most frequently reported crime type, with emerging threats including romance scams and AI-enabled deepfakes. Bissessar noted that Trinidad and Tobago lacks adequate data collection and classification systems to measure the true prevalence of these crimes locally, and calls for stronger coordination between authorities and social media platforms to address online harms.
ghanaweb.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI announced the extradition of three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Insuah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—from Ghana to the United States on August 7, 2025, for their roles in an international fraud scheme that stole over $100 million from victims. The four members of the criminal organization known as "The Enterprise" targeted vulnerable elderly Americans through romance scams and business email compromise schemes, while a fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large.
cedirates.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August 2025 to face charges in connection with an international fraud ring that stole over $100 million through romance scams targeting elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. The men allegedly led the Ghana-based criminal operation that deceived elderly Americans into false romantic relationships to extract money and also defrauded U.S. companies, with proceeds laundered back to West Africa. Each defendant faces multiple charges including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and receipt of stolen money, carrying potential sentences
businessday.ng
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian men—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August to face charges for operating an international fraud scheme that defrauded American victims and businesses of over $100 million. The organization targeted elderly Americans through romance scams and targeted businesses with email compromise schemes, laundering proceeds through Ghana. All three defendants face charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy, with sentences up to 20 years if convicted.
christianpost.com
· 2025-12-08
Kirbyjon Caldwell, a prominent Texas pastor and former spiritual adviser to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, returned to preaching at Windsor Village Church nearly a year after his release from prison for a $3.6 million fraud conviction. Caldwell had served part of a six-year sentence for his involvement in a scheme with investment adviser Gregory Alan Smith to defraud 29 investors through the sale of worthless historical Chinese bonds between 2013 and 2014. He has completed full restitution to all victims and was removed as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church as part of disciplinary measures.
deccanherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Deepfake technology, powered by AI, poses a growing fraud threat to financial institutions and individuals, with estimates suggesting potential losses of Rs 70,000 crore in India in 2025. Fraudsters use hyper-realistic synthetic videos and cloned voices to impersonate executives or loved ones to authorize fraudulent transactions, with an average loss of $450,000 per business incident globally in 2024. Financial institutions are implementing advanced AI detection, blockchain-based identity verification, and employee training programs to counter deepfake fraud, as traditional KYC and facial recognition methods have become vulnerable to these sophisticated attacks.
inkl.com
· 2025-12-08
Seniors are increasingly targeted through crypto ATM scams using seven common tactics: fake tech support calls, grandparent emergency scams, romance fraud, government impersonation, fake investment schemes, utility bill threats, and QR code tricks. These scams exploit the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions and the emotional vulnerability of older adults through urgency, authority, and personal relationships. The article advises seniors to verify requests independently through official channels, avoid sending cryptocurrency for emergencies or payments, and consult trusted contacts before transferring money.
rutherfordsource.com
· 2025-12-08
The FTC warns that jury duty scams remain prevalent with a new twist: scammers impersonate police officers claiming victims missed jury duty and direct them to fraudulent websites resembling official government sites to steal personal information (birthdates, Social Security numbers) and demand fines up to $10,000 or cryptocurrency payments. Consumers should recognize that legitimate law enforcement will not threaten arrest via unsolicited calls or demand payment through untraceable methods; they should hang up and independently verify any jury duty obligations by contacting their local court directly.
businessday.ng
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian men—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States and charged with operating an international fraud scheme that defrauded American victims of over $100 million through romance scams targeting elderly individuals and business email compromise schemes targeting companies. The defendants allegedly created fake online identities to build trust with victims before extracting money, with proceeds laundered through various channels back to Ghana; a fourth suspect remains at large. Each defendant faces wire fraud, money laundering, and related charges carrying maximum sentences of 20 years in prison.
hackread.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian men—Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, and Derrick Van Yeboah—were extradited to the United States in August 2025 to face charges for their roles in a $100 million fraud scheme involving romance scams targeting vulnerable elderly individuals and business email compromise attacks on companies. The criminals created fake online identities to gain victims' trust and convince them to send money, while also impersonating business executives to trick employees into wiring funds to fraudulent accounts; the stolen money was then laundered through West Africa. A fourth suspect, Patrick Kwame Asare, remains at large, and the defendants face multiple charges including wire frau
govinfosecurity.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were extradited to the United States and charged with stealing over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) attacks targeting U.S. victims and organizations from 2016 to May 2023, with particular focus on vulnerable older men and women. The criminals, operating as part of a "sakawa" criminal organization, used fake identities and forged email accounts to trick victims into sending money or laundering stolen funds through shell company bank accounts in the U.S. before funneling proceeds to West Africa; three defendants have been extradited and face up to 75 years in prison, while one remains at large.
infosecurity-magazine.com
· 2025-12-08
Four high-ranking members of a Ghana-based criminal organization were indicted by the US Attorney's Office for stealing over $100 million from victims through romance scams targeting elderly people and business email compromise schemes. Three of the accused were extradited to the US in August 2025 on charges including wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, while the fourth remains at large; the stolen funds were laundered through West Africa to criminal operatives who directed the broader conspiracy.
mondaq.com
· 2025-12-08
On August 4, 2025, FinCEN issued a warning about escalating criminal misuse of convertible virtual currency (CVC) kiosks, noting that over two-thirds of kiosk-related fraud losses in 2024 affected seniors who were targeted through tech support and government impersonation scams directing them to transfer funds via the kiosks. The notice also identified widespread operator noncompliance with Bank Secrecy Act requirements and documented use of CVC kiosks by drug cartels for money laundering through structuring transactions below reporting thresholds and using multiple machines across jurisdictions.
pacbiztimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Caihong Lei, 34, was charged by Santa Barbara County prosecutors with multiple felonies including conspiracy to commit theft from an elder, attempted theft from an elder, and attempted theft by false pretenses, along with several misdemeanors including elder abuse and petty theft. Lei was held at Santa Barbara County jail on $500,000 bail as of August 7, 2025, though specific details about the victim, the scheme tactics, or amounts involved were not disclosed in the announcement.
nature.com
· 2025-12-08
This research study compared video-based versus text-based anti-fraud educational materials for older adults aged 60 and above, finding that video interventions significantly outperformed text-only materials in improving comprehension, emotional engagement, and fraud prevention intentions. Text-based materials provided more detailed information but generated lower emotional engagement, while the study validated a combined multimodal approach integrating both formats to better address older adults' cognitive and emotional needs in protecting themselves against sophisticated fraud schemes.
lowincomerelief.com
· 2025-12-08
Social Security recipients face escalating financial fraud, with seniors over 60 losing an estimated $3.4 billion to scams in 2023 alone. The article outlines seven common scam types targeting this vulnerable population: fake government calls (including a new SSA warning about fraudsters posing as federal agencies demanding payment via untraceable methods), Medicare fraud, grandparent scams, financial services impersonation, tech support scams, fake assistance programs, and romance scams. The article provides protective measures for each scam type, emphasizing verification of contacts, use of official phone numbers, and avoidance of unusual payment methods and unsolicited requests for personal information.
turnto23.com
· 2025-12-08
The Better Business Bureau warns consumers about moving scams, which increased during peak moving seasons in 2024, with over 100,000 inquiries and 718 complaints filed against movers, resulting in a median loss of $754 per victim. Common scams include no-shows, unexpected price hikes, weight-based upcharges, stolen items, and holding belongings hostage for additional fees. The BBB recommends researching movers carefully, verifying company legitimacy, and being cautious of red flags such as missing business information, unusual payment methods, and vague contracts before hiring moving services.
thesun.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Criminals are creating increasingly convincing fake websites impersonating well-known retailers like Costco, with dozens of shoppers losing hundreds of pounds after purchasing items that were never delivered. Scammers are using AI technology to build near-perfect replicas of legitimate sites, often luring victims through fake social media ads. To protect themselves, shoppers should verify URLs carefully, avoid deals that seem too good to be true, check for physical contact information, and use domain checkers to verify website legitimacy.
onlineathens.com
· 2025-12-08
A Jefferson woman lost at least $2,000 after depositing a fraudulent $2,650 check received through the mail as part of a "secret shopper" scam, purchasing $1,500 in gift cards with her checking account and $500 more on credit before discovering the check was fake. In a related incident the same day, a Jackson County man was scammed out of $850 after paying money to a caller claiming to bail his sister out of jail.
hellorayo.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Ben Millin, a 32-year-old from Yeovil, was jailed for nearly three years after defrauding four women of an estimated £30,000-40,000 through romance scams involving fabricated stories about dying relatives, financial difficulties, health conditions, and planned holidays. Millin used the stolen money primarily to fund his gambling habit, with one victim (Charlotte) losing approximately £20,000 inherited from her deceased father, while another victim discovered his deception only when she saw his court sentencing in the news after he disappeared mid-scam.
nature.com
· 2025-12-08
Vietnamese victims, particularly educated professionals, were lured to Cambodia through fraudulent job postings by Chinese-led criminal syndicates operating "pig-butchering" scams between 2018-2023, where they were trafficked, confined, and coerced into committing cyber fraud against others. This mixed-methods study of 10 cases and interviews with 12 Vietnamese police officers reveals complex multi-layered networks targeting skilled workers with promises of IT, programming, and customer service positions, creating "victim-offender overlaps" where trafficked individuals are simultaneously victimized and forced to victimize others. The research highlights the need for greater focus on the intersection of human trafficking, cyber
thecyberexpress.com
· 2025-12-08
Three Ghanaian nationals were extradited to the United States in August 2025 and charged with operating a fraud ring that stole over $100 million from victims between 2016 and 2023 through romance scams targeting vulnerable and elderly Americans and business email compromise attacks against U.S. companies. The defendants allegedly built fake romantic relationships to manipulate victims into sending money and hacked business emails to trick companies into wire transfers, then laundered the proceeds through intermediaries to West Africa. Each defendant faces charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and receipt of stolen money, with potential sentences up to 75 years in prison if convicted on all counts; a fourth co-conspirator
avonandsomerset.police.uk
· 2025-12-08
Ben Millin, a 32-year-old from Yeovil, was jailed for nearly three years after defrauding four women of an estimated £30,000-40,000 through romance scams involving fabricated stories about dying relatives, health conditions, and financial emergencies. The stolen money was primarily used to fund his gambling addiction, with one victim losing approximately £20,000 inherited from her deceased father, while another victim's identity was exploited when he fraudulently obtained credit cards in her name.
dig.watch
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were extradited to the United States and charged for operating an international cybercrime syndicate that stole over $100 million through romance scams and business email compromise (BEC) attacks. The scheme, led by Isaac Oduro Boateng and three others, used fake romantic relationships, email spoofing, and victim profiling to target individuals, while altering business payment details to redirect corporate funds. The stolen money was laundered through a hierarchical network coordinated from West Africa, with the three extradited suspects arriving in the US on August 7, 2025.
bitdefender.com
· 2025-12-08
Four Ghanaian nationals were extradited to the United States for their roles in an international fraud scheme that stole over $100 million from American citizens and businesses between 2016 and May 2023. The criminal enterprise, known as "the Enterprise," primarily used romance scams targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals (often older men and women) and business email compromise (BEC) attacks against corporations, with stolen funds laundered through international bank accounts. The defendants face multiple federal charges including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, each carrying potential 20-year sentences.
americascreditunions.org
· 2025-12-08
FinCEN issued guidance alerting financial institutions to a rising trend of scam payments involving cryptocurrency ATMs (CVC kiosks), where scammers contact victims—particularly elderly individuals—via unsolicited calls impersonating banks, government agencies, or tech support to direct them to deposit cash into crypto ATMs. According to FTC data, older adults account for more than two-thirds of all losses from CVC kiosk scams, with criminals often instructing victims to structure transactions across multiple deposits or kiosks to evade reporting thresholds. The advisory identifies red flags for credit unions and CVC operators to detect suspicious activity, including unusual high-value withdrawals, elderly members with no
westernmassnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Thirteen individuals were charged for operating a transnational elder fraud scheme from a call center in the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 U.S. seniors of more than $5 million. The scammers used scripts to convince elderly victims that relatives needed emergency financial assistance, sometimes targeting victims multiple times, and enlisted rideshare drivers to transport victims to banks for additional withdrawals before laundering the money back to the Dominican Republic. Nine suspects were arrested while four remain at large.
stlpr.org
· 2025-12-08
A 31-year-old St. Louis-area man, Chaman Silverio Balbuena, has been indicted as part of a 13-person grandparent scam operation that defrauded over 400 elderly victims of more than $5 million. Balbuena, along with co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic, used fake emergency calls claiming grandchildren needed legal fees for accident-related lawsuits, then employed him as a "runner" to collect cash via rideshare drivers—netting at least $350,000 from 25 victims between November 2022 and February 2023. He faces charges for conspiracy to commit mail and wire frau
boston25news.com
· 2025-12-08
A transnational elder fraud ring operating a call center in Santiago, Dominican Republic, defrauded over 400 elderly victims (average age 84) out of more than $5 million through "grandparent scams," with at least 50 victims in Massachusetts. Thirteen individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme, which involved callers posing as grandchildren in distress and then as attorneys requesting emergency funds; four suspects remain at large while nine are in custody. Federal authorities shut down the operation following a two-year investigation and are urging victims to come forward without shame, noting that such schemes are increasingly sophisticated, sometimes aided by AI.
boston.com
· 2025-12-08
A transnational elder fraud ring based in the Dominican Republic was disrupted after a two-year investigation resulting in nine arrests and four additional charges, with 13 suspects identified in total. The scheme defrauded over 400 victims (average age 84) of more than $5 million across Massachusetts, Florida, California, Maryland, and New York by using bilingual callers posing as distressed grandchildren in accidents or legal trouble, followed by a "closer" impersonating an attorney, then a "runner" collecting cash via rideshare services. Alleged ringleader Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia and associates face charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering,
troopers.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
On July 31, 2025, State Police in Clifton Park and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations arrested Chuncheng Lin, 26, and Hui Lin, 40, for grand larceny and conspiracy related to a computer scam targeting an elderly Saratoga County resident. The victim lost over $80,000 in cash and gift cards after being contacted via computer and phone by someone falsely claiming to be from Citizens Bank Fraud Department who threatened legal prosecution and demanded payment. The suspects were apprehended during a supervised meeting when they attempted to collect an additional $30,000, and both were released on appearance tickets pending court dates in August 2025.
justice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Thirteen individuals, led by Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia, were charged for operating a transnational "grandparent scam" call center in the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 elderly victims (average age 84) across the United States, resulting in more than $5 million in losses, including at least 50 victims in Massachusetts. The scheme involved callers posing as grandchildren in distress or their attorneys, instructing victims to send cash via rideshare drivers or mail, and often requesting additional payments through fabricated stories. The defendants allegedly laundered the illicit proceeds back to the Dominican Republic through money launderers and bank accounts in the United States.
bostonglobe.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal authorities charged 13 people operating a call center in the Dominican Republic with defrauding over 400 U.S. seniors (average age 84) of more than $5 million between May 2022 and April 2024 through a "grandparent scam" in which callers posed as grandchildren in legal or medical distress and accomplices impersonating lawyers extracted additional payments. The sophisticated scheme involved commercial telemarketing software, dark web victim lists, and ride-hail drivers to collect cash, and was dismantled after a two-year FBI investigation initiated when Uber alerted authorities to suspicious activity. Nine of the 13 defendants are in custody,
bostonherald.com
· 2025-12-08
Federal authorities dismantled a transnational "grandparent scam" operation based in the Dominican Republic that defrauded over 400 victims nationwide, including at least 50 in Massachusetts with an average age of 84, stealing more than $5 million. The scheme involved call center employees posing as grandchildren in distress or their attorneys, instructing elderly victims to send cash via rideshare drivers or mail, with some victims targeted multiple times for additional funds. Thirteen individuals were charged, with eleven arrested on Tuesday, after a two-year joint investigation by the FBI and Dominican Republic authorities, and the stolen proceeds were laundered back to the Caribbean.
nbcnews.com
· 2025-12-08
Thirteen Dominican Republic citizens have been charged with operating a sophisticated grandparent scam that defrauded approximately 400 U.S. seniors out of $5 million by posing as their grandchildren in distress and repeatedly extracting money from victims. The victims, averaging 84 years old and located across Massachusetts, California, New York, Florida, and Maryland, were targeted with calls claiming emergencies such as car accidents or arrests, with fraudsters sometimes contacting the same victims multiple times. Nine suspects are in custody while four remain at-large, each facing conspiracy charges for mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering with potential sentences up to 20 years in prison.
wcvb.com
· 2025-12-08
Thirteen people were charged in a sophisticated transnational elder fraud ring that operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic and defrauded over 400 Massachusetts senior citizens of approximately $5 million in combined losses. The defendants used a coordinated system of "openers" posing as distressed grandchildren, "closers" impersonating lawyers, and "runners" collecting cash, often making repeated calls to victims to extract additional payments for fabricated emergencies. Alleged mastermind Oscar Manuel Castanos Garcia and other defendants used rideshare drivers as unwitting money couriers, with nine suspects arrested, two remaining at large in the U.S., and two at large in the Dominican Republic.
thevibes.com
· 2025-12-08
A romance scam syndicate operated by three Nigerian men and one Indonesian woman was dismantled in Melaka following early morning raids, with the group having targeted victims across Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines over a six-month period by creating fake Facebook profiles posing as foreign suitors and manipulating victims into transferring money via e-wallets. Police seized laptops, phones, passports, and a USB drive valued at RM15,000, and all four suspects were remanded for investigation under cheating and immigration violation charges. Authorities advised the public to verify suspicious contacts through official channels and report suspected scams to the National Scam Response Centre at 997.
thisisthewestcountry.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Ben Millin, a 32-year-old fraudster from Yeovil, was sentenced to 34 months in prison for romance scams targeting four women, from whom he stole an estimated £30,000-40,000 by fabricating stories about dying relatives, financial crises, and health conditions. The money was primarily used to fund his gambling habit, and victims including Fiona and Charlotte experienced severe psychological trauma, with one developing post-traumatic stress disorder; Millin also fraudulently obtained credit cards in victims' names and was issued restraining orders and a five-year serious crime prevention order.